So how did that Ryan pick work out?

posted at 8:41 am on August 17, 2012 by Jazz Shaw

Today marks one full week since presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney named Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan as his running mate in the battle of 2012. Trying to figure out precisely what effect this is having on the race seems to be an increasingly difficult task for the traditional media, who largely perform their research on such things by asking each other for dueling, ten second sound bites. With so little to go on, perhaps we should turn to our old friend mathematics. Today, Romney campaign manager Matt Rhoades released a memo bring everyone up to date on some of the key campaign figures over the past week.

First up… donations.

Online Fundraising

Donations: 124,800+

Amount: $10,157,947

Average Donation: $81

% New Donors: 68%

The Obama campaign doesn’t seem to release their fundraising numbers on such a granular level these days, but if there had been some sort of massive, anti-Ryan backlash flood of donations I think Axlerod or Cutter would have let us know by now.

How’s Mitt faring in the social media and web world since the Ryan announcement?

Site Traffic – Total: 2,000,000

Mitt Romney Facebook: +510,000 — Now 4,360,000

Mitt Romney Twitter: +54,000 — Now 861,000

Paul Ryan Facebook: +860,000

Paul Ryan Twitter: +118,500

Volunteers 45,000+ sign up to volunteer online

You can go out on all the Sunday shows and spin the headlines however you like, but that’s got to be a pretty encouraging set of numbers for America’s Comeback Team. But what explains them in terms of the reality on the ground? If Paul Ryan is so scary and radical, where is this surge of support coming from?

Kirsten Powers thinks she may have the answer. She seems to believe that younger voters of Ryan’s era – which she calls “Generation Screwed” – are open to his message of long term solutions.

Unfortunately, the future looks as bleak for today’s young people. No amount of coddling by their well-provided-for Boomer parents can save Generation Y and the Millennials from the dire economic conditions they face, including criminal levels of educational debt. Pensions have gone the way of the horse and buggy. You want to retire with health-care benefits, as both my professor parents did? Good luck. As the 1994 movie turned Gen-X mantra has it: Reality Bites…

A Zogby/JZ Analytics poll Tuesday showed increased support among voters 18-29 for the Romney ticket, which pollster John Zogby attributed to the Ryan pick. President Obama received just 49 percent of the youth vote, versus Romney’s 41 percent. (Obama took home 66 percent of the youth vote against McCain in 2008.)

81 days to go. The convention is only a little more than a week away. Let’s get a batch of popcorn going, folks. Things are just starting to get interesting.

Update(Ed): It’s 81 days to go, not 88. I’ve fixed it above, and here’s a handy countdown clock:

Breaking on Hot Air

Blowback

Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.

I don’t think the GOP has had a better week (outside of 2010 results) in the past 3.75 years…

hillsoftx on August 17, 2012 at 8:46 AM

Agreed. And unless Obama somehow regains the momentum over the coming week, he’s in trouble. Because the week after next is the convention where you know Romney/Ryan will get a boost in the polls since they’ll be able to speak to the nation unfiltered(well, unless MSDNC adds a laugh track to their speeches).

And with Obama going back to the pathetic tax returns attack on Romney today, I don’t see him turning things around before the GOP convention.

Well her answer last week was a long, snarky column about how the Ryan pick was the demise of Romney’s candidacy. She seemed to have changed her tune by about Tuesday.
BettyRuth on August 17, 2012 at 8:50 AM

Unfortunately, the future looks as bleak for today’s young people. No amount of coddling by their well-provided-for Boomer parents can save Generation Y and the Millennials from the dire economic conditions they face, including criminal levels of educational debt.

My 16 year-old daughter just entered the workforce. She’s a hostess for a local restaurant – and was quite appalled at how taxes impacted her rather small paycheck. It was a perfect opportunity to introduce her to government spending/waste and the debt her generation faces. This is one very angry “Gen 44″ teen. :)

GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) – Barack Obama’s re-election campaign kept up pressure against Republican rival Mitt Romney on two fronts Friday, launching a new ad defending the president’s record on Medicare while challenging Romney to release at least five years of tax returns.

The TV advertisement – accusing Romney and running mate Paul Ryan of undermining the health care program critical to millions of seniors, came as Romney made plans to spend his time raising money in non-battleground states. That remains a top priority even with the election less than 12 weeks away and Obama making extended visits to toss-up states such as Iowa and Ohio.

Obama campaign manager Jim Messina made the tax-disclosure offer to Romney campaign manager Matt Rhoades in a letter Friday morning. Messina said he was taking the step because Romney “apparently fears the more he offers, the more our campaign will demand that he provide.”Romney’s wife, Ann, has repeatedly stated that concern in interviews, arguing that the more the couple releases, the more questions are asked.

Romney released his 2010 taxes and has pledged to release his 2011 returns. Messina said in letter that he wants Romney to provide three more years of returns.

Obama’s campaign has questioned whether there are years when Romney paid no taxes. Romney defended his record Thursday, saying he has paid at least 13 percent of his income in federal taxes every year for the past decade.

“I did go back and look at my taxes and over the past 10 years I never paid less than 13 percent,” Romney told reporters after he landed in South Carolina for a fundraising event Thursday. “I think the most recent year is 13.6 or something like that. So I paid taxes every single year.”

ROMNEY AD IDEA:
Obama talking about “transparency”……..and then asking for COLLEGE TRANSCRIPTS, PASSPORT RECORDS, FAST AND FURIOUS, and then an ominous voice asking “Why the secrecy Mr. President?”

But weren’t we told the timing was off? That naming Ryan to the ticket so early would mean two weeks of the media and Obama campaign savaging R&R over that evil Medicare provision in Ryan’s budget- which isn’t even the official position of the Romney Campaign?

Face it folks, this election defies the norms that the so-called experts are using to make their predictions. It holds true of the polling and even more so than the cadre of pundits who were raised to believe that any mention of Medicare was like garlic to a vampire, a silver bullet to a werewolf, or grooming to Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

Probably because you’re looking forward to Obama’s concession speech as well as the reaction of the MSDNC crew when they have to announce Mitt Romney as the President-Elect. I still maintain that someone will commit career suicide on that network that night. Imagine an Olbermann-esque rant with Toure-type language. I guarantee you at least one of their anchors or analysts will give in to their anger.

There was a nice discussion on that yesterday. It turns out that after Hillary wisely refused to hitch herself to the humiliating loss that awaits Hussein Ogabe, there is no one else worth paying the price of replacement. So he’ll just grit his teeth and beg the presstitutes to quietly ignore his mate’s gaffes.

You can go out on all the Sunday shows and spin the headlines however you like, but that’s got to be a pretty encouraging set of numbers for America’s Comeback Team. But what explains them in terms of the reality on the ground? If Paul Ryan is so scary and radical, where is this surge of support coming from?

When Paul Ryan came out on stage and raised his arms up THAT was a turning point in the campaign.

And with Obama going back to the pathetic tax returns attack on Romney today, I don’t see him turning things around before the GOP convention.

Doughboy on August 17, 2012 at 8:50 AM

Yup. Personally, I think Ann babbled a bit too much last night on 30 Rock in the NBC interview when asked about tax info. To make matters worse, Brian Williams announced next week the entire 1 hr show will be devoted to “Mormonism in America”….#DESPERATION.

Probably because you’re looking forward to Obama’s concession speech as well as the reaction of the MSDNC crew when they have to announce Mitt Romney as the President-Elect. I still maintain that someone will commit career suicide on that network that night. Imagine an Olbermann-esque rant with Toure-type language. I guarantee you at least one of their anchors or analysts will give in to their anger.

Brian Williams announced next week the entire 1 hr show will be devoted to “Mormonism in America”….#DESPERATION.

hillsoftx on August 17, 2012 at 9:04 AM

Are you serious? That seems desperate to do 2 1/2 months before the election, but I guess they wanna hit Romney on that before the convention. The problem with attacking him on his Mormon faith(aside from the obvious religious bigotry) is that it invites comparisons to Obama’s faith which is still a source of confusion to many Americans who either don’t believe he’s Christian or actually think he’s a Muslim. Not to mention the fact that he sat in a racist, Marxist preacher’s church for 20 years.

How’s Mitt faring in the social media and web world since the Ryan announcement?

While you can’t get #s from the Mr. Transparency campaign, it would be nice to see your crackpot research staff pull social media change in #s on Obama’s side. Little change in traffic would suggest little disdain for Mr. Ryan and/or complete loss of confidence in Oblamer.

When compared to the Romney/Ryan team Obama/Biden appears to have some serious handicaps. There are a multitude of reasons beginning with a severe shortage of intellect, but the mere fact that Biden has to be kept on a leash puts more pressure on our delicate president….. awwwwwww……

Let me tell you people something.I live in Ma.Mitt is really a strong steady person.
He was/is a Mormon running against a person named Shannon O’Brien in Ma. and had all the dems like Ted Kennedy John Kerry Bill &Hill Clinton in this state campaigning for O’brien and still won the governorship.
Then he had to try to govern to the right against the tide of a 85% dem legislature. And still did a decent job.
Some of his positions that would have everyone scream RINO! I think come from sort of a stockholm syndrome for self preservation.
Give the man a chance with at least a republican house I think he will be a fine President.

The response to Romney/Ryan has been great to watch. They make a terrific team.

Meanwhile:

August 17, 2012
Biden sent home to Delaware to start weekend early

Cody1991 on August 17, 2012 at 9:09 AM

What’s odd is I could’ve sworn Biden was already being confined a week or two ago before he suddenly surfaced this week with his neverending string of gaffes. Why the Obama campaign thought sending him out there would help is beyond me. It’s not just the misstatements and offensive remarks that are hurting. It’s his bumbling idiocy in front of tiny crowds juxtaposed with Paul Ryan’s effective stump speeches before thousands of excited supporters that are making it look like all the momentum is with Romney.

Watching the VP debate will be like watching that scene from “Saving Private Ryan” where the German soldier slowly drives a knife into the heart of the U.S soldier while whispering to him “Shhhh, it will be over soon”.

It holds true of the polling and even more so than the cadre of pundits who were raised to believe that any mention of Medicare was like garlic to a vampire, a silver bullet to a werewolf, or grooming to Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
Happy Nomad on August 17, 2012 at 8:59 AM

Some of his positions that would have everyone scream RINO! I think come from sort of a stockholm syndrome for self preservation.
Give the man a chance with at least a republican house I think he will be a fine President.

TSK9 on August 17, 2012 at 9:12 AM

Let’s be honest here. On some social issues he is a RINO- or at least is unwilling to make a principled stand against the secular humanists and godless commies of the left (but I repeat myself).

Yet, there is clearly one choice in this election and it is not maintaining the status quo.

Paul Ryan will be speaking in my neighborhood today. My entire family is going. It’s the first political rally any of us has ever been to. My two teenage boys are pretty excited and I have to say, I’m pretty excited too.

Since this is my first time to an event like this, anyone know how early I should show up?

Brian Williams announced next week the entire 1 hr show will be devoted to “Mormonism in America”….#DESPERATION.

hillsoftx on August 17, 2012 at 9:04 AM

During the Iraq surge I had the pleasure of working with a NG unit from Utah that was entirely Mormon.Great work ethic and in a year I never heard 1 cuss word if you can imagine that in a military unit.

Paul Ryan will be speaking in my neighborhood today. My entire family is going. It’s the first political rally any of us has ever been to. My two teenage boys are pretty excited and I have to say, I’m pretty excited too.

Since this is my first time to an event like this, anyone know how early I should show up?

CookeyD on August 17, 2012 at 9:18 AM

I’m going too! It’s my second rally, if I count the tea party rally I went to 3 years ago.

I’ll give Rombo a chance; the man didn’t become as successful as he without being able to compromise and a GOP congress will have to be worked with. I don’t see Rombo being the at-all-costs destroyer that TFGRP has been.

I think the Romneys just need to say that they’re not answering questions about their returns anymore, that they’ve released what they’re required to and their campaign is focusing on getting people back to work. Period. End of discussion. No need to delve into what the rate paid was per year, or say anything about it providing ammo to the Left…just say that you’re done with the topic. He also needs to continue to point out that it’s a distraction from the President’s miserable record, and ask the media why they’re doing his bidding by continuing to make it an issue, especially when they didn’t ask for squat from Obama when he ran in ’08.

Since this is my first time to an event like this, anyone know how early I should show up?

CookeyD on August 17, 2012 at 9:18 AM

Go early and feel the vibe. I saw Dubya in Minneapolis back in 2004 and it was a great time just mixing and carousing with other people. A bunch of us rode our bikes down there, purposely parked on the street in front of the raving anti-Bush protestors and gunned the motors for a few minutes; those geeks had no chance against a dozen tuned Harleys.

The article does imply that Biden’s campaign appearances have been limited. Guess they’re worried about him being such a loose cannon.
Can’t imagine what the next months will be like – watching a train wreck?

Are you serious? That seems desperate to do 2 1/2 months before the election, but I guess they wanna hit Romney on that before the convention.

Doughboy on August 17, 2012 at 9:07 AM

I guarantee he’s going to be asked about it during one of the debates. It’ll be a generalized faith question for both, but it’ll be designed to flesh him out on Mormonism.

changer1701 on August 17, 2012 at 9:27 AM

And this scares you because? We boogyman Mormons believe in working hard, obeying the laws, live conservative family lives and other such things, and this scares you because why?

History? Might I remind you of all sorts of bogeyman idiot stuff in mainstream Christianity? That what we are taught on an abiding basis is to love others, even when they are idiots, (Okay so I am a more blunt one that comes out fighting on occasion) to let others worship as the many even when worshiping something goes to their xbox or computer games rather than a higher being or believing man made creeds over what is actually in the Bible. If you can deal with politicians often murky past how in heavens can’t you deal with a possible president who is Mormon? You guys really need to get a grip on being able to deal with others and different beliefs.
We Mormons have been doing that for almost a couple centuries now…we have even forgotten a couple of extermination orders out there in put out in a country that should have done better. So why cant’ you deal with what Mormonism IS rather than the bogeyman you THINK it is.

Paul Ryan will be speaking in my neighborhood today. My entire family is going. It’s the first political rally any of us has ever been to. My two teenage boys are pretty excited and I have to say, I’m pretty excited too.

Since this is my first time to an event like this, anyone know how early I should show up?

Because the week after next is the convention where you know Romney/Ryan will get a boost in the polls since they’ll be able to speak to the nation unfiltered…

Doughboy on August 17, 2012 at 8:50 AM

They will also be able to start spending from the Presidential campaign funds. Romney hasn’t been able to do that, since he is not yet the official candidate. Considering how effective his ads and quick-response team were against the Obama smears (before he ran out of primary money and went quiet?), I expect the Romney/Ryan campaign to poll up in the stratosphere in very short order.

Suggestion for Hot Air:
How about starting a separate blog for readers to contribute reports from events, other sights, or other things related to the race? It would be moderated so that contributions stay on topic. If it works out well, it would be one place where readers can see what’s going on around the country, to see the enthusiasm of the folks on our side. I think it would be pretty cool.

Good idea. Neither Gov. Romney nor Rep. Ryan will be near me so I would love to hear about other events. Even though I live in the fastest growing area in the US, we don’t get those kind of people to our area. Palin comes here, but that is because she has family who live here.

Paul ryan will do for Romney what Sarah Palin could have done for McCain had she had talent.

rickyricardo on August 17, 2012 at 9:15 AM

There’s only two concepts to worry about when you throw a Hail Mary:

1. the quarterback throws the ball into the end zone; and
2. the receiver does whatever it takes to catch it.

So if the QB never throws the d*mn ball, you wanna blame the WR for not catching it?

I love the Ryan pick, and I think we have a team that wants to win. And I think most Americans would rather earn a good paycheck with economic and religious freedom than be given a small government check without either. So why you gonna go back to the politics of division?

Gee, Mormons are touchy, aren’t they?! I didn’t see in their posts where they were referring to Mormons as “boogeymen”. Seems like they were simply stating what the other side will be doing to try to demonize Romney.

Though I have issues with Mormonism myself, the fact is we are electing a president, not a bishop, “elder”, or “rider on the white horse”. Mormons would do well to remember that as well.

An excellent article at The American Spectator highlights the fact that Ryan is probably the most Reagan like candidate on the Republican ticket since Reagan. And this, ladies and gentlemen, is what is causing leftist heads to explode.

Probably because you’re looking forward to Obama’s concession speech as well as the reaction of the MSDNC crew when they have to announce Mitt Romney as the President-Elect. I still maintain that someone will commit career suicide on that network that night. Imagine an Olbermann-esque rant with Toure-type language. I guarantee you at least one of their anchors or analysts will give in to their anger.

Doughboy on August 17, 2012 at 9:00 AM

Actually I would imagine they would fail to report it like everything else. ;)